CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total ATNI Stockholders' Equity	Common Stock	Treasury Stock, at cost	Additional Paid In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)	Non-Controlling Interests	Comprehensive Income
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 282,433	$ 255,746	$ 158	$ (4,687)	$ 108,720	$ 156,827	$ (5,272)	$ 26,687
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Reissuance of 790 shares of common stock from treasury under Directors' Remuneration Plan for the years ended December 31, 2010				7	(7)
Issuance of 62,575, 51,602 and 85,500 shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	1,652	1,652	1		1,651
Purchase of 9,175, 5,470 and 1,331 shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(44)	(44)		(44)
Stock-based compensation	2,043	2,043			2,043
Dividends declared on common stock	(14,761)	(12,891)				(12,891)		(1,870)
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	595	595			595
Non-controlling interest in equity acquired	17,947							17,947
Investments made by minority shareholders	3,376							3,376
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	37,582	38,454				38,454		(872)	37,582
Other comprehensive income, net of tax expense (benefit) of $1,315, ($1,327) and ($1,236) for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(1,787)	(1,787)					(1,787)		(1,787)
Total comprehensive income	35,795	36,667						(872)	35,795
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	329,036	283,768	159	(4,724)	113,002	182,390	(7,059)	45,268
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of 62,575, 51,602 and 85,500 shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	1,175	1,175	1		1,174
Purchase of 9,175, 5,470 and 1,331 shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(218)	(218)		(218)
Stock-based compensation	3,249	3,249			3,249
Dividends declared on common stock	(16,670)	(13,857)				(13,857)		(2,813)
Non-controlling interest in equity acquired, net of tax of $2,280 for the year ended December 31, 2011 respectively	13,118	1,195			1,195			11,923
Investments made by minority shareholders	3,783							3,783
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	21,897	21,794				21,794		103	21,897
Other comprehensive income, net of tax expense (benefit) of $1,315, ($1,327) and ($1,236) for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(2,840)	(2,840)					(2,840)		(2,840)
Total comprehensive income	19,057	18,954						103	19,057
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	352,530	294,266	160	(4,942)	118,620	190,327	(9,899)	58,264
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of 62,575, 51,602 and 85,500 shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	1,452	1,452			1,452
Purchase of 9,175, 5,470 and 1,331 shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(344)	(344)		(344)
Stock-based compensation	3,543	3,543			3,543
Dividends declared on common stock	(18,332)	(14,943)				(14,943)		(3,389)
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	(362)	(362)			(362)
Non-controlling interest in equity acquired	(77)							(77)
Investments made by minority shareholders	1,061							1,061
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	53,167	48,932				48,932		4,235	53,167
Other comprehensive income, net of tax expense (benefit) of $1,315, ($1,327) and ($1,236) for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	1,602	1,602					1,602		1,602
Total comprehensive income	54,769	50,534						4,235	54,769
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 394,240	$ 334,146	$ 160	$ (5,286)	$ 123,253	$ 224,316	$ (8,297)	$ 60,094